Medical properties of Agaricus blazei

Agaricus blazei Murill is well known for its ability do stimulate the immune system. It has traditionally been used against a variability of diseases, ranging from physical and emotional stress, diabetes, high cholesterol and circulatory problems, osteoporosis, peptic ulcer and indigestion, to chronic hepatitis and cancer. A fifty years of scientific research revealed its significant potential to improve the overall health, and thus - the quality of human life.

Data from in vitro and animal studies indicate that Agaricus blazei Murill (ABM) brings about positive effects in different disease models. This is due foremost to the fact that ABM activates white blood cells such as macrophages, dendritic cells, granulocytes and natural killer cells in the innate immune system.

The innate immune system is an important, evolutionary old and efficient first-line of defense system. It detects danger patterns and reacts, destroying the hostile elements (for example cancer cells, viruses or bacteria). The immune system collects data about dangerous factors in memory cells - bits of the defeated intruders (antigens) are presented to lymphocytes in the adaptive immune system, which ensures an enforced response against a second attack by the same invader, with the additional use of weapons such as antibodies and cytotoxic T cells.

Therefore, it is appropriate to say that Agaricus blazei Murill may all over improve health and thus the quality of human life. The mushroom has traditionally been used against various illnesses, ranging from physical and emotional stress, diabetes, high cholesterol and circulatory problems, osteoporosis, peptic ulcer and indigestion, to chronic hepatitis and cancer.

According to a clinical cancer study that took place in South Korea in 2004, Agaricus blazei Murill improved the quality of life in patients on a high dose of chemotherapy. In addition to this it increased their NK cell activity. As shown in a scientific review, the difference in A. blazei M subtypes, cultivation and processing can affect the mushroom's ability to impact cells of the immune system for protection against life-threatening diseases like bacterial sepsis.

Consequently, the quality of the ABM extract is directly related to the improvement of a human's health and quality of life. Since ABM affects the general innate immune system and AndoSan was shown to be the ABM extract with the far best protective effect in the study referred to above, AndoSan is also suggested to be the most effective ABM extract for other health problems where ABM may play a positive role.